Harris Corp. President Resigns After Only A Year At Helm

After less than a year at the top, Harris Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Van Cullens has resigned, citing unspecified personal reasons, the Melbourne communications company said Tuesday.

Cullens, a 30-year communications industry veteran, took the senior executive job in July -- just as Harris disclosed a strategy to get out of some fringe businesses and become a "pure-play" communications company.

Harris employs 10,500 worldwide, including 6,000 in the Melbourne-Palm Bay area in the design and production of communications systems for defense, aerospace and commercial markets.

Because of his experience, including executive stints at Siemens AG telecom subsidiaries, Cullens was deemed a logical choice to lead Harris into its next phase after the spinoff of its Lanier Worldwide and Harris Semiconductor units.

With Cullens' departure, Harris chief executive Phillip W. Farmer has assumed the positions of president and chief operating officer -- titles Farmer held before Cullens' appointment last year. The move is expected to be permanent, with the company saying there are no plans to look for another president.

Cullens could not be reached for comment. Harris officials denied his resignation was triggered by a management schism.

Farmer's takeover of the president and COO jobs was described as a move toward management efficiency.

"As a result of our repositioning, Harris has created a management structure and control system that is acutely focused on operating results,'' Farmer said. "That control can be best accomplished with a direct line from the operating divisions to the company's chief executive officer.''

Analysts said it's not unusual for a company to consolidate executive positions. Cullens joined Harris in 1997 as president of the communications sector and was credited with guiding the sector through turbulent times to become more competitive with foreign rivals. During his nine months as president, the company made major acquisitions, showed good profit and increasing sales. Harris stock traded at about $32 a share when he came on board. After falling sharply in the fall of 1999, prices rose steadily, peaking at $40 last month.